Childbirth
Positions on Hands-and-Knees

Childbirth positions on
hands-and-knees are
beneficial for many situations. They may not be pretty, but
are effective at increasing the mother's comfort level and can prevent
other complications.

The
Crawl
Position

The
"crawl" position is performed exactly as it sounds, on all fours as if
the mother were about to crawl. This position is also
commonly used with pelvic rocking to increase the mother's comfort
level. This position,
while
definitely not glamorous,
is extremely beneficial for birthing a large baby. It allows
the pelvis to expand to its largest dimensions and reduces the pressure
on the perineum while giving the baby more room to maneuver if needed.

This
position is also a natural alternative when umbilical cord prolapse is
an issue. Cord prolapse occurs when the umbilical cord falls
into the birth path before the baby. When this happens, the
cord can become constricted, cutting off oxygen and blood to the
baby. It's a potentially life-threatening situation.

If
the waters have ruptured and the cord has potentially fallen into the
birth path, moving into this position can prevent the cord from falling
further. The baby is encouraged to move towards the top of the uterus,
thus the cord has less risk of becoming constricted or may even retract
on its own.

The Full Moon Position

The
"full moon" position is a modified version of a crawl position in which
the mother rests her shoulders and forearms on the floor or other level
surface, keeping them lower than her rear. This
position is
useful for turning a
posterior baby. Gravity can assist in rotating a posterior
baby to a more favorable anterior position. It is also
helpful to have the mother widen her knees as far as is comfortable to
open the pelvis as much as possible so the baby has the best chances of
turning.

Some
variations on these
childbirth
positions include having a birth companion placing a blanket or long
scarf under the woman's belly and pull both ends. This
supports some of the mother's weight and takes the pressure off her
legs.

The birth
companion can rub
her lower back or
apply hot/cold packs, a frozen water bottle, rice sock or other labor
aids to increase her comfort level.